Sydney Thunder hit 150 runs against Adelaide Strikers just FOUR DAYS on from a woeful 15-run total against both opponents… but Alex Hales’ strong innings still wasn’t enough to avoid another defeat
On the back of another Matt Short masterclass, the rampant Adelaide Strikers maintained their perfect start to the BBL season with a six-wicket win over Sydney Thunder at Adelaide Oval.
Short (65) was cautious on Tuesday night before exploding after the powerplay to pilot the ladder-leading Strikers past the Thunder’s 5-150 with eight deliveries to spare, and to a 3-0 record.
After the early departure of Jake Weatherald (seven), Short, this season’s leading runscorer, opened his shoulders and hit five sixes in his eye-popping 44-ball knock.
Matt Short made 65 off 44 balls as Strikers sealed a six-wicket win over Thunder
Thomas Kelly (left) and Adam Hose (right) saw the Strikers home on Tuesday night
Short, who was also miserly with the ball (0-13 off three overs), loved the offerings of Daniel Sams and dominated an 83-run, second-wicket partnership with Chris Lynn (28), who was bowled in what was likely no. role of second fiddle.
Both men fell to superb yorkers from left-arm pacer Nathan McAndrew (2-25), Lynn’s castle was disturbed and Short was trapped in front, before English import Adam Hose stepped in. (28no) and the finishing touches applied.
Earlier, the Strikers bowlers put their team in a strong position after recovering from an early onslaught by Alex Hales.
The English master blaster led the score with 68 but was kept in relative check after crunching 36 of the Thunder’s 39 powerplay runs.
Chris Lynn put on an 83-run, second-wicket partnership with Short before being bowled out
Nathan McAndrew removed both Short and Lynn with a superb spell of fast bowling
Alex Hales smashed 68 off 50 balls but it wasn’t enough to get Sydney over the line
The Adelaide crowd cheered in the third over as the Thunder’s score surpassed the T20 world record low of 15 they embarrassingly posted against the Strikers on Friday night.
Hales put on 63 for the third wicket with youngster Ollie Davies (42) before both succumbed to de Grandhomme (2-25).
The Thunder, whose win-loss record fell to 1-3, were looking for 180-plus after reaching 2-79 at the halfway stage before being restricted to 3-71, including three boundaries, in the final 10 overs.
Friday’s destroyer Henry Thornton took 2-19 to take his season tally to 11 wickets at a phenomenal 3.82 average.
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